Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur To Open Third Edition of the London INDIAN Film Festival in June

Europe’s fastest growing platform for Indian cinema returns to the Capital celebrating the burgeoning movement of alternative Indian cinema. The third annual London Indian Film Festival will run from 20 June – 3 July, bringing to UK audiences a selection of cutting edge films from some of India’s and the UK’s hottest independent talents. Going way beyond Bollywood, these are films that challenge, shock, generate debate and present a more realistic view of India today in all its colour and diversity.

The Festival, which is supported by Film London, will stretch city wide, opening in the West End at the Cineworld Haymarket and continuing at BFI Southbank, Watermans, Cineworld Trocadero, Feltham, Wood Green, Wandsworth, the O2 and ICA. For the first time the festival is also teaming up with Tate Modern to present a rare showcase in Indian experimental film curated from Bangalore.

The Festival also has films and events for a wide range of audiences and includes industry events at BAFTA, exploring Indian/UK co-production and specially commissioned music and performance pieces.

The London Indian Film Festival includes a diverse range of World and UK Premieres and will open with Mumbai cult Director Anurag Kashyap’s action-packed Gangs of Wasseypur. Starring Jaideep Ahlawat, Manoj Bajpayee and Raima Sen Gangs of Wasseypur, which is based on true incidents, is a revenge story set in the dynamic socio-political milieu of erstwhile Bihar. Wasseypur is a town in the district of Dhanbad in the northern part of India. The film will have its World Premiere at Cannes Director’s Fortnight. London Indian Film Festival’s full programme will be released on 21 May.

Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Festival Director comments, “We aren’t just showing Indian films for Indian audiences, but opening the door to the rich diversity of cinema in India today, to all audiences. Some of these films are kicking out the old stereotypes of Indian cinema, while the best filmmakers are starting to be recognised on the world stage, where they belong. It’s great to be premiering these cutting-edge new films in London, during a year when the city is celebrating its cultural richness.”

London Indian Film Festival is supported by Film London’s Cultural Film Exhibition Fund through the National Lottery on behalf of the BFI, Satyajit Ray Foundation, Western Union, Incredible !ndia, Cineworld, Grange Hotels and BFI.